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Utica College to Host Bath Salts Forum

Educational Forum to Inform Public About New Drug

Written By Alexis March '13, PR Intern

Learn the dangers of this new synthetic drug on Sept. 19 at the college

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cleogrande@utica.edu

Utica, NY (09/11/2012)

- In recent news, the term ‘bath salts’ has the public curious as to why a relaxing, fragrant bath time treat is making such a stir. This once-innocent term is now the name of a dangerous synthetic drug. Utica College will host a forum discussing bath salts on Wednesday, Sept. 19 in the Carbone Auditorium located in the Economic Crime, Justice Studies, and Cybersecurity Building.

The forum will take place at 3:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public, however seating will be limited.

Dr. Jeanna Maraffa, assistant professor at the Upstate New York Poison Control Center, will give the keynote. She will discuss what warning signs parents, teachers, students and others should watch for, as well as the composition of the drugs.

Bath salts, a new form of synthetic drug, contain powerful stimulants that can cause severe side effects including violent behavior, paranoia, and hallucinations. The drug can be purchased throughout the nation –legally-- in tattoo parlors, gas stations, head shops and truck stops.

For more information about the forum, contact William Virkler, executive director of economic crime and justice studies program at Utica College, at wvirkle@utica.edu or (315) 223-2559.

About Utica College – Utica College, founded in 1946, is a comprehensive private institution offering bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. The College, located in upstate central New York, approximately 90 miles west of Albany and 50 miles east of Syracuse, currently enrolls over 3,700 students in 37 undergraduate majors, 27 minors, 22 master’s and two doctoral degree programs.

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Fast Facts

Founded in 1946, UC is a comprehensive institution that offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.